AN INNOCENT ABROAD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 170, 24 December 1914, Page 8

AN INNOCENT ABROAD.

"PLUCKED" IN AUCKLAND. >j A TOO TRUSTING YOUNG HOLIDAY- ' MAKER. J By Telegraph.—l'm - I'm* Association. 1 Auckland, Lust Night. A confiding young man from Poverty Bay, who came to spend a holiday in Auckland last week and lost JKI7 in a 4ame of cards of a kind new to hif, but f into which lie was initiated by a very ideasant and genial stranger who had net him on the street, told hi;i story ■ before llr Cuttc.u, S.M., at the Police Jourt., whea Frederick Carruthers, Joseph Davidson, and Reginald Simpson, three well-dressed men, were charged that in Sunday they 'did conspire, together hj: ilcfraud Wiliain Rowland Forbes." Forbes stated that lie was a stationhand, recently employed near Gisbnrne. )n Sunday evening, as he was walkin:; ; down Queen Street, lie was bumped by Carruthers. Carruthcrs said, "Excuse me, whore's Albert Park?" He replied, "I don't know exactly where it is. I'm a stranger here myself." "I'm a stranger, too," responded Carruthers. "I believe the hand is to play in the Park to-night." Carruthcrs was very friendly, and induced Forbes to take a stroll with him, and enter the Albert Hotel to see an alleged stock agent. In a sitting-room they met Simpson and Davidson. Carruthcrs then produced two shillings, saying, "Have a drink with me." The invitation included the others, and Simpson then pulled out half a sovereign, and said, "Well, have one with me." Davidson, when asked to join, produced lialf-a-crown, and said, "Well, have a drink with me." Witness then said, "Well, I'm not going to be mean, I'll come in too. The sina I '' st change I have is ten shillings. Ilavo a drink with me." Carruthcrs said "Your drinks will be too many. We can't all shout. We'll draw to see who pays." Davidson went away to get draughts? but returned saying that all they had was a pack of cards. By this time Carruthcrs had in his hand all the money that had been placed on the table. He said, "We will draw," and, passing the pack to Simpson, said "Three highest cards to shout." Carruthcrs then got a piece of paper, and placed down their four initials. Simpson dealt out four cards, witness getting nil ace. Carruthcrs said, "You won that." Simpson dealt the cards round i again, Carruthcrs getting the highest ! card. Carruthcrs then asked witness ! for some money, and witness gave him £2, the others'doing the same. Simpson again dealt the cards, and again witness got a 1 ace. Carruthcrs said, "You've won that one. I want more money." Witness fulled out a £5 note,'and the others also gave Carruthcrs money. 'I he card's v.'cre thrown round again by Simpson, ami Ibis time Davidson won. : Carruthcrs faked for more money, and got another fiver. Witness asked what I he wanted the money for, and received | the answer, "Oh, it's all right. I'm only drawing for drinks." The cards went I round again, DaVidson once more gottinu J the highest card. Carruthers asked for I more money, and got a third fiver. The j cards v/rrc dealt again, and DavnlbOr won ag.-iin. On the sixth deal Can-u----thei's then said that Davidson had tc shout. Davidson went for the drinks I and when he returned Carruthers handed hi;i over all the money that lie had collected. T! ey had their drinks, and Forbes asked for his money. Carruthers said. "Oh, no, he's won it fair enough." Witness got up to come away, Carrutlier? stating that he would come too. Carruthcrs went up tlio road a little way with Forbes, and tlien crossed the street and Forbes lost him. The following day, accompanied by his j brotlicr-in-law, Forbes came into town I and near the hotel saw Davidson. The i latter saw them also, and ducked up n side lane, where he was joined by Simpson. As Forbes and bis brother-in-law followed Simpson kept looking behind and when the followers rounded the nexl cornel - they saw Davidson and Siinpsoi: running until they were lost to view. Information was given to the police and the three men were arested. They and the three men were arrestd. They had hag was a well equipped "spieler's outfit," including a "roller sweat outfit,' one of those coloured roller blocks thai is rolled along a board marked in coloured stripes. The roller was faked. They had also a number of "crook" dice, bored ready for the lead. There were further several hazard dice, with double sixes and double fives for ringing the changes. The whole was the paraphernalia of spielers. The accused reserved their defence, and were committed for trial.